C

Medical Terms

A malignant tumor of potentially unlimited growth that expands locally by incation and systematically by metastasis; an abnormal state marked by such tumors. Enlarged tumor-like growth; a disease marked by such growths. In the 19th century, cancerous tumors tended to ulcerate, grew constantly, and progressed to a fatal end and that there was scarcely a tissue they would not invade.

canker

An ulcerous sore of the mouth and lips, not considered fatal today.

carbuncle

A painful local inflammation of the skin and deeper tissues with multiple openings for the discharge of pus and dead tissue.

cholera

An acute, infectious disease characterized by profuse diarrhea, vomiting, and cramps. Cholera is spread by feces-contaminated water and food.

cholera infantum

A common, noncontiguous diarrhea of young children, occurring in summer or autumn. It was common among the poor and in hand-fed babies. Death frequently occurred in three to five days. Synonyms: summer complaint, weaning brash, water gripes, choleric fever of children, cholera morbus.

chorea

Any of several diseases of the nervous system, characterized by jerky movements that appear to be well coordinated but are performed involuntarily, chiefly of the face and extremities. Synonym: Saint Vitus' dance. May be called Huntingdon's Chorea or Huntingdon's Disease.

colic

Paroxysmal pain in the abdomen or bowels. Infantile colic is benign paroxysmal abdominal pain during the first three months of life. Colic rarely caused death. Renal colic can occur from disease in the kidney, gallstone colic from a stone in the bile duct.

congestion

An excessive or abnormal accumulation of blood or other fluid in a body part or blood vessel. In congestive fever the internal organs become gorged with blood.